Speaking About Death with a Child
Having a death in the family can be difficult for everyone, but it can be even more so for children, who may not comprehend exactly what has happened. If there has recently been a death and you want to speak with your child about it, it can be a good idea to know how to tackle this subject. Here are some tips that providers of cremation services in Dewey, OK want you to remember before you start.
The best thing that you can do, both for your child and for yourself, is to let them know the truth from the start. Use simple language that does not have euphemisms like “passing away”. You do not want to confuse your child and that can happen if you are not careful with what you say. Keep the wording simple so that your child can understand from the start what has happened.
Let your child ask questions about the death. They will likely have a good amount of them. You also want to be as honest as you can with these answers, too. You do not want your child to feel like you are talking down to them. Instead, answer as concisely and honestly as you can. If there is a question you do not know the answer to, tell the child the truth but also let them know that you will do your best to find out.
Do include them in the funerary services if they want to attend. This can be confusing sometimes to parents, leaving them unsure if they should encourage the child to attend or not. It is important to let your child choose for themselves if they want to attend. Never force them to do so, since that can cause more harm than good.
Another thing to remember is that you may want to speak with a funeral home director to learn more about this. They are experienced and trained in dealing with grief and loss and they may even be able to help you speak with your child. If you do not know where to begin, this can be a good place.
Another thing you want to do is to let your child know that they can grieve as they need to. Many children hesitate to show what they are feeling because they are afraid of upsetting adults. By letting your child know that you are also sad after the death and that they should express as they need to, you will be helping them process the death.
When getting ready to let your child know of a death, you want to consider all of these things. Be honest with them and let them know that you are there for them if they want to talk or if they have questions. To learn more about all of this, you can reach out to a Dewey, OK cremation services provider like us. Our team is ready to help you with all of the arrangements you need to make after a death so do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can give us a call now or you can stop by one of our locations today to know more about what we can offer.
